Whether you just dove into a new industry or you moved to a new area, it is never easy being the new person! Whichever of those aspects you represent, networking is very important to finding your tribe and establishing your company among your peers. While I've covered 3 Reasons You Should Network and How, today I am sharing three ways to network when you're the new kid in town!

FACT: FACEBOOK ACCOUNTS FOR 21% OF ALL SOCIAL MEDIA REFERRAL TRAFFIC TO WEBSITES.*

1 | FOLLOW, FOLLOW, FOLLOW.

Research which social media tags local professionals are using in your niche, and jump on the bandwagon! Secondly, find business pros like you by typing in a business category and your area into a search engine. For example, "wedding photographers in Richmond Virginia." You'll boost your following, and connect with others who grow your referral base.

2 | FIND A NETWORKING EVENT!

The age-old trick of turning on your company and (again!) typing in your favorite search engine, "networking events [your city]" or "business networking events [your city]" is the perfect place to start. When in doubt, I suggest browsing the following websites to easily find networking events by zip code:

3 | DON'T BE SHY.

When you find a fellow industry professional you want to Facebook message or say "hello" to at a networking event, do not be shy! You've done the research, located the event, and drove there, so why toss in the hat now? When it comes to conversations - share your story of how your got started with your company, what sets your business a part, and watch your tribe grow! Oh, and whatever you do, do not forger your business cards!!

REMEMBER: NETWORKING IS NOT ABOUT COLLECTING CONTACTS, BUT BUILDING RELTIONSHIPS.